"I attended the prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of 'Eid. He started with the prayer before the Khutbah, with no Adhan and no Iqamah. When he finished the prayer, he stood leaning on Bilal, and he praised and glorified Allah (SWT) and exhorted the people, reminding them and urging them to obey Allah (SWT). Then he moved away and went to the women, and Bilal was with him. He commanded them to fear Allah (SWT) and exhorted them and reminded them. He praised and glorified Allah, then he urged them to obey Allah, then he said: 'Give charity, for most of you are the fuel of Hell.' A lowly woman with dark cheeks said: 'Why, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'You complain a great deal and are ungrateful to your husbands.' They started taking off their necklaces, earrings and rings, throwing them into Bilal's garment, giving them in charity."
The Book of the Prayer for the Two 'Eids - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1575
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i details the proper procedure for the Eid prayer as established by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The hadith demonstrates several important rulings: the Eid prayer precedes the khutbah, no adhan or iqamah is called for it, and the Prophet specifically addressed women separately to provide religious guidance appropriate to their circumstances.
Sequence of the Eid Prayer
The Prophet (ﷺ) began with the prayer before delivering the khutbah, establishing this as the sunnah. This differs from the Friday prayer where the khutbah comes first.
No adhan or iqamah was called for the Eid prayer, indicating these formal calls to prayer are not prescribed for Eid gatherings, as the nature of the occasion naturally brings people together.
The Khutbah and Its Manner
The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered the khutbah while leaning on Bilal, demonstrating the permissibility of leaning on something while speaking if needed.
The content included praise and glorification of Allah, exhortation, reminders, and urging obedience to Allah - establishing the essential components of an effective religious sermon.
Special Attention to Women
The Prophet's separate address to women shows his concern for their religious education and the importance of tailoring guidance to different audiences.
His response about women being the "fuel of Hell" due to complaining and ingratitude toward husbands highlights the spiritual danger of these traits and the importance of patience and gratitude in marital relations.
Spontaneous Charity
The women's immediate response by donating their jewelry demonstrates the powerful effect of sincere religious exhortation and the virtue of spontaneous charity.
This incident shows how proper religious guidance can inspire immediate practical application of faith through charitable giving, even from those of modest means.